2013-14 TV Season

It's time for the networks to pick up certain of the pilots they've been looking at for 2014, and also to, in some cases, start to cancel existing shows. Yes, that's right - we're approaching the Upfronts!

Fox has just picked up four new series for 2014. I call attention to the first two of them, because they're a bit... quirky? Interesting?

ALMOST HUMAN (working title)

A JJ Abrams project, starring Karl Urban!!! A police drama set in the near future, where a police officer who doesn't like robots and a robot with emotions that (as best I can tell from the treatment) shouldn't be there are teamed up to solve crimes. With Karl Urban! Yay! Oh, and did I say Karl Urban is in this one?

SLEEPY HOLLOW

To me, this one sounds destined to fail. An action show where Ichabod Crane, of all people, is resurrected and brought to the modern era, where he learns he's humanity's last hope (of course he is) to save itself from destruction (from what, I am not sure...)

They've also picked up RAKE. Starring Greg Kinnear, and based on the Australian series of the same name. A legal drama. The main character is a lawyer, a recovering addict who has serious issues. To quote IMDB on the Australian version:

A lawyer (criminal defense) tries to take up the most challenging and disturbing cases that no one wants. His private life is not without pickles.

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Finally, there is GANG RELATED

Supposed to be gritty drama, focusing on people working on a gang task force. Starring Terry O'Quinn, Ramon Rodriguez and RZA. RZA, if you don't know him, is a hip hop artist, and a major part of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as a successful actor.

All those shows involve people investigating stuff--or worse, lawyers with questionable morals. I'll give shows with anyone from "Lost" a shot, but I don't enjoy procedurals. I want mythologies! At least there's the CW....

For Tudors and Game of Thrones fans, "The White Queen" might be worth checking out. The "White Queen" is about the War of the Roses, which, as many people know, was the inspiration for Game of Thrones. Some well-known actors such as James Frain, Rupert Graves, and David Oakes are in it.

From the guys that do "Parks and Recreation", which, btw, is the only NBC comedy I've heard has yet been renewed, this one stars Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher, and is focused on police officers.

DADS

This is a live action Seth MacFarlane piece, which had already been confirmed for six episodes, and has now been expanded to 13. It stars Seth Green (Yay!) and Giovanni Ribisi as childhood best friends whose PITA dads move in with them. The dads are Martin Mull (!!!!!) and Peter Riegert (perhaps most famous from Animal House.)

ENLISTED

A family comedy involving three brothers getting to know each other again on a small Florida Army base.

US & THEM

Based on the BBC series &#8220;Gavin and Stacey&#8221;

SURVIVING JACK (working title)

Based on Justin Halpern&#8217;s book, &#8220;I Suck at Girls.&#8221; Set in 1990s Southern California, starring Christopher Meloni as a dad

All those shows involve people investigating stuff--or worse, lawyers with questionable morals. I'll give shows with anyone from "Lost" a shot, but I don't enjoy procedurals. I want mythologies! At least there's the CW....

All those shows involve people investigating stuff--or worse, lawyers with questionable morals. I'll give shows with anyone from "Lost" a shot, but I don't enjoy procedurals. I want mythologies! At least there's the CW....

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I'm still waiting for my cop show starring Sawyer and Miles as partners working a beat

The dads are Martin Mull (!!!!!) and Peter Riegert (perhaps most famous from Animal House.)

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Love them both - although I don't remember Riegert in Animal House. I know him from Local Hero and Crossing Delancy, and various guest appearances.

TNT has also announced two shows for the summer of 2014 (who even knows when seasons are these days...):

LEGENDS

Sean Bean stars as Martin Odum, an undercover agent working for the FBI&#8217;s Deep Cover Operations (D.C.O.) division. Martin has the uncanny ability to transform himself into a completely different person for each job. But he begins to question his own identity when a mysterious stranger suggests that Martin isn&#8217;t the man he believes himself to be. Also stars Ali Larter and Tina Majorino.

THE LAST SHIP

The story opens with a global catastrophe that nearly decimates the world&#8217;s population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoids falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now the crew and its captain must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors. They have a scientist on board who has been charged with finding the cure. Eric Dane and Adam Baldwin star

Sean Bean in a role that won't see him killed off and Adam Baldwin back!

Based on the Nick Hornby book and the film of the same name. Starring Minnie Driver.

Sean Saves the World

Starring Sean Hayes. Sean is a divorced gay dad whose 14 year old kid moves in with him. Sean is determined to be the best parent ever, but his boss seems to have other plans for him, deciding that now is the ideal time to increase his work hours and workload.

The Family Guide

Plot sounds like it's trying to be overly quirky, so we'll have to see.

Believe

JJ Abrams. Focuses on a girl with emerging powers and a man who has been released from prison to act as her protector. Inspired a bit by Buffy?

Crisis

Focuses on a Secret Service agent who is involved in the investigation when the President's son and his classmates are kidnapped. Dermot Mulroney stars.

Most likely next week, during or after the upfront presentations. The upfronts are:

May 13, 2013 NBC-TV New York 11:00 am Radio City Music Hall
May 13, 2013 FOX-TV New York 4:00 pm Beacon Theatre
May 14, 2013 ABC-TV New York 4:00 pm Avery Fisher Hall
May 15, 2013 CBS New York 4:00 pm Carnegie Hall
May 16, 2013 THE CW New York 11:00 am New York City Center

Fun for celebrity spotting for those interested. You can't get inside, of course, but you can hang around outside and see people coming in/going out.

These are also the dates by which these networks reveal which existing shows have been cancelled and renewed. So for example, if you're really into Community on NBC, which is understood to be a "bubble" show, we'll most likely know its fate by 5/13 morning.

24 may return to Fox as a limited run series!!!!!! My husband joked, "What, are they going to make it 12 hours?" I'm kind of excited about that. I started watching 24 late in its run. I'll take 12 hours if that's what I can get.

NBC has just renewed Parks and Recreation, and cancelled Whitney, 1600 Penn, Guys with Kids, and Up All Night. That means Community is still TBD.

The CW has renewed the Carrie Diaries and Nikita.

The CW has ordered the following new series:

The Tomorrow People

Based on the 1970's series from the UK. About young people who represent the next stage of human evolution.

Star Crossed = Roswell reboot?!
Reign = I'll take a pass
100 = heartbreak hotel because like 99% of all sci-fi series it will be cancelled quickly
The Tomorrow People = interesting but if I see even one vampire or werewolf I'm GONE!

Star Crossed = Roswell reboot?!
Reign = I'll take a pass
100 = heartbreak hotel because like 99% of all sci-fi series it will be cancelled quickly
The Tomorrow People = interesting but if I see even one vampire or werewolf I'm GONE!

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I heard Tomorrow Pele is about a Vampire that turns into werewolf during the full moon,